ugo basile thermal plantar

The Thermal Plantar Test Instrument (Hargreave’s Method) measures response to infrared heat stimulus.
Focus the infrared source below the Plantar surface and with the press of a button … latency to paw withdrawal and infrared intensity are recorded automatically (i.e. no manual scoring!). The Plantar Test represents a remarkable advance in methodology, as it combines the best features of all other methods
of measuring pain sensitivity. Unique to the Plantar Test, the animal is unrestrained and unhandled during experiments.

Automatic measurement of hyperalgesia to thermal stimulation in unrestrained animals.

Computer compatibility: direct connection to a PC, via the dedicated software included as standard

PC Interface: USB and serial

Read-out: multifunction liquid-crystal graphic-display

Data Portability: via the Memory-Key provided with the standard package

Print-out: by optional thermal mini-printer

Universal Mains85-264 VAC, 50-60Hz

Automatic detectionof the behavioural end point

Validityunaffected by repeated testing

Greater bioassay sensitivitythan other thermal or mechanical tests

Each animalcan serve as its own control

Starting: via keys on the I.R. Vessel.

I.R. Intensity: adjustable in the interval 10-99 (in one digit steps)

Reaction Time: three-digit LED display, 0.1s steps

Calibration: via I.R. Radiometer

Physical

Dimensions (assembled)

85 x 40 x 35 cm

Weight

13.00 Kg

Shipping Weight

27.50 Kg approx.

Determination of acute nociceptive thermal threshold in laboratory animals has primarily relied upon the tail flick and hot plate methods. Although both methods are used frequently in pharmacological studies, they are not without limitation. In addition, neither method has been extended to investigating behavioural responses to hyperalgesia.

The Plantar Test represents a remarkable advance in methodology, as it combines the best features of all other methods of measuring pain sensitivity. Unique to the Plantar Test, the animal is unrestrained and unhandled during experiments.

The Instrument basically consists of:

A Movable I.R. (infra-red) Source

A Glass Pane onto which the Rat Enclosure is located

A Controller

A 3-compartment enclosure for rat or, in alternative a 6-compartment enclosure, convenient for the mouse

After the acclimation period, the I.R. source placed under the glass floor (see the picture) is positioned by the operator directly beneath the hind paw. A trial is commenced by depressing a key.

When the rat feels pain and withdraws its paw, the I.R. source switches off and the reaction time counter stops. The withdrawal latency to the nearest 0.1 s is automati-cally determined.

DATA AQUISITIONThis model has a microprocessor controlled unit. The experimental data, stored in its internal memory can be directly exported to the PC USB or serial ports.

Communication is managed by the dedicated CUB Data Acquisition Software Package, included as standard or by the Win-DAS Software.

The CUB Windows®-based Software Package enables the user to route the experimental data to the PC and store them into individual files, to be managed by most statistical analysis packages available on the market.

The model is provided with a memory key, to record all the experimental data of one or more sessions and to program the experiment layouts from a remote PC.